I am with ita on "Fall of the House of Usher", there was not much there there. But Poe was something of a pioneer of the short-story, wasn't he, with that whole each story having one overriding effect on the reader thing? So, I'll cut him some slack.

Well, kiss another PTO day goodbye. No way I can take tomorrow off as planned, though I will have to cut out early to take my sis to the airport.

This is what sucks about PTO that doesn't roll over. In theory, I kind of like that it encourages you to, you know, actually take time off. But when half the time you end up having to cancel it because of workload, it's really fucking annoying. Because I don't get that time back, you know, or any compensation if I don't manage to use it by the end of the year. As it is, tomorrow was supposed to be unofficially burning off one of my several remaining 07 days that I didn't get to use, which my manager is allowing us to do as long as it doesn't go past January. Feh.

msbelle:

The only advice I can give is that credit courses cost a LOT more than non-credit ones, but sometimes workplaces only reimburse for credit courses, so you should check out your policy. For example, a 3 credit course at my university costs $2750, and a similar length non-credit course costs $399. However most people with tuition reimbursement will get only part of the $399 back.

You also want to check out the accreditation of the institute.

Most of our students are very happy, but we have a lot of instructor contact, plus our classes include taped instruction, interactive computer activities, message boards, etc. Again, we are teaching anatomy and not accounting, but I think looking for on-line classes where you can get instructor help or advertise a variety of different activities rather than reading and doing might be helpful. Most of our activities are optional-- that is, if you just want to read the book and take the test, you can, but we try to provide all different types of learning methods for all different types of learners.

Ok, wrong Owen.

Hee! I had the same reaction. Although, Torchwood Owen is known for screaming his head off about something or other, so at first I was fooled.

Brenda, I have the same issue about unused PTO not rolling over and was scrambling at the end of the year to squeeze in all my days. This year might be a bit less of a problem because I'm taking two weeks in April. Usually, I rarely take any time off the first half of the year other than the occasional sick day, and am therefore trying to get them all in the last few months.

Also, my daughter can PEE. It was like a waterfall in the bed (I was there and got peed on).

My mom likes to tell me how when I was wee (ha!), I'd show up to get in bed with her and my dad, snuggle up all warm and sweet-like, and proceed to pee the bed. Happened multiple times apparently.

I encouraged people at my previous job to start taking every other Monday or Friday off for a few months if they don't have planned vacations and tend to end up with unused time each year. I have only ever managed to have unused time (vacation OR sick days) a couple of times and once it was planned. I am already planning my summer vacation now and am bothered that we do not have actual dates set yet.

There was a Stephen King story in (I think) SKELETON CREW about a woman who liked finding short cuts via back roads ("She was mad for a shortcut") when driving that went to some seriously cool Lovecraftian places, but I can't remember the name of it.

Oooh -- I loved that one. Shivery.

"The Mist" is still one of my favorite Stephen King stories. Although "1408" is right up there now.

And I know Lorrie Moore is a bit out of favor since yesterday, but I adore most of her stories. "How To Become a Writer" is classic, although it's less story than exercise in form.

"The Lottery," "The Yellow Wallpaper," and "The Open Window" also way up on my hit parade. I like the classics, I guess.

That reminds me of another favorite: Robert Bloch's "That Hell-Bound Train."

Also love his "Yours truly, Jack the Ripper".

Are you sending the universe positive thoughts?

I am one gigantor ray of negativity today. I am, in fact, planning to destroy Dallas.